A Message from Michael Bolton 2 Newsletter/2017September.pdfA Message from Michael Bolton is...

SEPTEMBER 2017 • VOLUME 7, ISSUE 9, PAGE 1

The District 2 Council By-Laws established a District 2 Council Steering Committee comprised of a rank and file structure. It was set up to assist in the following:

Development of agenda for Council Conference.

● Planning of the District Council Conference Educational Conferences.

● District 2 strategic planning.

● Determining and assessing educational needs within the District.

Generating and leading activism and other purposes consistent with the mission and directives of District 2 and the USW.

The elected members of the Steering Committee are listed below by manufacturing sector. If you need to contact a Steering Committee Member, please do so by using the email provided below.

NameNameName LU#LU#LU# SectorSectorSector Email AddressEmail AddressEmail Address

Hawley Warren 1299 Steel and Related

[email protected]

Dennis DeMeyer Jr. 2-15 Paper [email protected]

Kevin Bishop 1533 Amalgamated [email protected]

Jesse Edwards 2-232 Automotive Related

[email protected]

Kent Holsing 12075 Chemical &

Energy Related [email protected]

Health Care

John Mendyk 12934 Public [email protected]

Dave 327 At Large [email protected]

Margaret Newton 5965 At Large [email protected]

Jim Whitt 2-145 Allied Industrial [email protected]

USW District 2 Office 1244A Midway Road Menasha, WI 54952 (920) 722-7630

Northern WI & MI Sub-District Office 1244A Midway Road Menasha, WI 54952 (920) 722-7630

Southern WI Sub-District Office 1126 South 70th Street Suite N509A West Allis, WI 53214 (414) 475-4560

Northern MI Sub-District Office 503 North Euclid Avenue Suite #10 - Euclid Plaza Bay City, MI 48706 (989) 667-0660

Southern MI Sub-District Office 20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300 Taylor, MI 48180 (734) 285-0367

— Continued on Page 2 —

as we should be of the number participating, we shouldn’t be satisfied because over one in ten members are not saving for retirement, or an unexpected career ending illness or accident. We never know what tomorrow may bring, so if you are not participating, I urge you to reconsider. Sure, in the short term, it can be tough on the budget, but in the end, you and your family will be glad you did.

While we’re on the subject of unexpected surprises the future might bring, hundreds of USW members have been negatively impacted by massive hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida. As the newsletter goes to print, a third storm is bearing down on the east coast. At this point, no one knows where it is headed or how big it will be when it gets there, we can only hope that any damage it brings is minimal. With the kids returning to school and the holidays fast approaching, many Steelworkers in the affected areas are hurting financially. Some have lost everything they worked for. I hope that as you witness the events down south unfold in the days ahead that you will be moved to help our brothers and sisters in their time of need. You can make a donation by visiting a special Steelworker link (See Letter on page 5). Solidarity! It’s the thing that makes us stronger than the rest.

Finally, I believe the media got it wrong during its coverage of the recent UAW representation election at Nissan in Alabama. Yes, the Autoworkers lost. But the election was not a referendum on the entire labor movement. To hear some in the media talk, you’d think the labor movement was being pronounced DOA.

Of course, Unions are not dead. As the poll I cited above shows, America supports organized labor. The fact is that Nissan was just one election and it should be looked at in that light. By looking at it that way, we can better understand why the UAW came up on the short end of the stick.

First, workers were pressured to vote no by far too many outside sources. An NLRB representation election is supposed to be conducted in a “sterile environment”, free of coercion and intimidation. It is an issue between the workers and the company. But that’s not what happened at Nissan. Using newspapers, radio and television, politicians and business organizations warned the Unionization would not only end in the company’s failure, but also the economic devastation of the entire community. The thought that their yes vote could result in their brother or neighbor losing their job was too much for workers to overcome.

A Message from Michael Bolton

is published by the

United Steelworkers District 2 AFL-CIO·CLC

MICHAEL H. BOLTON, Director 1244A Midway Rd., Menasha, WI 54952

(920) 722-7630

Contributors to this issue include:

Lori Gutekunst, Jay McMurran, Tammy Duncan, Ed Leary, Tonya DeVore, Linda Lucas, Cindy Odden, Jim Allen, Jackie Anklam, Mark Eilers, Steve Benoit, Ross Winklbauer, Dave Page, Chris Haddock, USW Media Dept., History Channel,

Economic Policy Institute, WLUC Channel TV6

Articles and photos are welcome and should be sent to:

Art Kroll, Editor, District 2 News 20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300, Taylor, MI 48180

[email protected] • 734-285-0367

September 29, 2017, is the deadline for submissions for the next issue.

For years I have been e n c o u r a g i n g D i s t r i c t 2 Steelworkers to be proud of their Union membership. Sure, for the past several years we have been under attack by anti-labor right wingers hell bent on weakening us for their own political gain and

DISTRICT 2 CONTACT IDISTRICT 2 CONTACT IDISTRICT 2 CONTACT INFORMATIONNFORMATIONNFORMATION

USW District 2USW District 2USW District 2 Council Steering CommitteeCouncil Steering CommitteeCouncil Steering Committee

it gets a bit discouraging at times. However, I reminded you the work we are doing is critical to maintaining a prosperous working class and I believe a majority of Americans recognize the need for strong unions to counter Wall Street’s power.

That’s why I was not surprised to see that a recent Pew Research poll indicated that a clear majority of voters in this country have a favorable opinion regarding the U.S. labor movement. That’s great news and what is even more encouraging is the level of support Unions have among younger Millennials. I think the financial meltdown of 2008 proved for most that despite all the anti-labor rhetoric, Unions do have meaningful function in today’s economy. They also see that after 30 years of wage stagnation, the only real means that workers have of gaining fair wages is through a Union negotiated contract.

While it is nice to get positive news like that for a change, what good does it do if we don’t act?

I hope that our leaders at the national level will take these poll results and run with them to create some momentum for organizing locally. On the District level, the poll tends to confirm the need to continue to develop a top notch organizing program that includes highly trained, motivated Local Union Organizers. We began that effort last year and will continue to reach out to Local Union Presidents for recommendations to build our District Organizing Committee. What about you? Do you like a tough, rewarding challenge? If you are interested, please talk to your Local President or International Staff Representative.

As good as Unions are for working Americans, they are even better for members. Consider this figure from Forbes Magazine: 87% of workers under a Union contract participate in their company’s 401(k) programs compared to just 56% without a collective bargaining agreement. That is a substantial disparity and it shows that Union people are savvier than their non-Union counterparts. However, as proud


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United Steelworkers District 2 AFL-CIO·CLC

MICHAEL H. BOLTON, Director, 1244A Midway Road, Menasha, WI 54952 (920) 722-7630

Next, the entire process of electing to join a Union is broken. The laws were written over 70 years ago. The only changes have been to weaken workers’ rights and tilt the process in favor of the employer. For example, the law says that employers cannot threaten to close a workplace if workers vote in favor of representation. However, the law has no enforcement power. There are no fines or penalties for making such threats. The most a Union can do is file a charge against the employer, which could delay an election for months. If the employer is found guilty, the company is required to post a notice advising workers that they acted inappropriately. By the time that happens, the employer’s threat has done its damage and the drive has effectively been killed.

The law also prohibits bosses from firing workers involved in Union activities. However, again, the laws have little punitive power. If an employer is found guilty of firing its employee, he can be forced to pay the worker’s back pay and other benefits. But, most bosses consider that a small price to pay to defeat a Unionization effort.

I am getting ahead of myself, because the above things only happen when a Union election is scheduled. The challenge is getting to that point. To get an election, Union supporters have to get at least one-third of their eligible co-workers to sign a Union authorization card. However, workers have to do that as quietly as possible because as soon management gets word a Union may be forming, all hell breaks loose. The company hires a Union buster law firm to start a campaign of fear and intimidation that includes one-on-one meetings with workers, mandatory mass meetings, letters to employee homes, and, when the Union is winning, threats of plant closings, starting rumors of strikes that lead to job loss brought on by the use of replacement workers, and as a last resort, firing individuals associated with the organizing drive.

Now, I am not saying that it is impossible to organize new members. Unions can and do win. On September 19, District 2 just successfully concluded a health care organizing campaign at Bishop Noa Nursing Home located in Escanaba, Michigan, adding 38 new CNAs into our Steelworkers’ family.

As it stands right now, the process is skewed toward the employer and reduces a worker’s chances of gaining dignity and a voice in the workplace. That’s why we have to continue to work for the election of candidates who will support the right of workers to organize and to engage in collective bargaining. The rise of the American working class is tied directly to the growth of the U.S. labor movement. If we are going to renew the working class, that effort must start with legislation that levels the playing field for workers.

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A Message from Director Bolton - continued

USW Local 2-209 Starts Collecting for Hurricane Harvey Families

Americans across the country are giving labor unions the thumbs up. A new Gallup poll released today found that an overwhelming 61% of Americans support unions. This is the highest level of support since 2003.

People understand that unions bring balance to our economy by putting a needed check on corporate power and greed. There’s no power like the power of coming together as a team in a union with your coworkers for a bigger paycheck, a safer workplace and a better life.

Another Labor Day report unveiled today by the AFL-CIO shows that as the freedom to join a union erodes, working people are working more and taking fewer vacation days. The report found that the majority of American workers credit labor unions for many of the benefits they receive.

America is strongest when workers have the freedom to come together and negotiate for a fair return on our work. Unions lift up our families, make improvements on the job, and win the services our communities need to be safe and to prosper. We use our collective power and voice to advocate for policies that benefit all working people – like increasing wages, affordable health care, and great public schools.

In the AFL-CIO report, 54% of workers said they’d join a union tomorrow if given the option. Respondents also expressed the major concern that weakening unions could hurt workers’ benefits in the future.

While 78% of workers say they have the day off on Labor Day, more than a quarter of those people expect to do some work, and more than half of those working will not receive overtime benefits. More than half of Americans surveyed said they were working more holidays and weekends than ever.

Thanks to a good union contact, union members are more likely to receive Labor Day off and overtime pay compared with their nonunion counterparts. Sixty-six percent of union mem-bers receive overtime pay on Labor Day, compared with 38% of nonunion members.

USW Local 2-209 (Harley-Davidson) asked their members to help those in need in the aftermath of destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey. The local set up drop boxes at each plant entrances to collect money for those impacted by this natural disaster. Mark Eilers, Local Union President said “In times like these we all need to put our differences aside, stop our petty squabbles and help out a fellow Union Brother or Sister. A number of my members have family or friends that are in the middle of the destruction

that Hurricane Harvey has brought. We have collection boxes at each entrance of the plant and the support from the membership is incredible in spite of the fact that we are facing layoffs and down days in our plant.”

For more information on how you can make Hurricanes Harvey & Irma Donations, go to page 5 of this Newsletter.

Left to right: Mike Hoppe, Mark Eilers, Mark Thielen, Jerome Ish, Stephanie Helm, Carl Dunkovich, Bob Loose, Dave Sweigart, and Craig Spicer

JUNE continued 20 WOS Quarterly Meeting Ronn Hall (USW Local 4950 Hall), 1206 Baldwin Avenue • Negaunee, MI

26–27 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NWI) Riverwalk Hotel, 123 E. Wisconsin Avenue • Neenah, WI

28–29 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SWI) Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Milwaukee Airport • 5311 S. Howell Ave • Milwaukee, WI

JULY 14 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW District 2 Southern MI Office, 20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300 • Taylor, MI

18 WOS Quarterly Meeting Kent Ionia Labor Council, 918 Benjamin Avenue • Grand Rapids, MI

28 WOS Quarterly Meeting Milwaukee Labor Council Building, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI

28 WOS Quarterly Meeting American Legion Hall, 327 W. Wisconsin • Tomahawk, WI

28 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI

28–29 WOS Lock-In USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI

AUGUST 19 Warrior Princess Run & WOS Quarterly Meeting Mosquito Hill Nature Center, N3880 Rogers Road • New London, WI *Quarterly meeting following run at Diggers Pub and Grub

SEPTEMBER Nominations for the USW International Election will be held in September. 4 Labor Day - Please don't forget to participate in a parade near you!

10–15 WOS Leadership Development Course - Levels 1 & 2 Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth, 730 S. Main Street • Frankenmuth, MI

OCTOBER 10 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) Teamsters Local 7 Hall, 3330 Miller Road • Kalamazoo, MI

11 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI

12 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) USW Local 1299 Hall,11424 W. Jefferson Avenue • River Rouge, MI

16–18 Biennial Wisconsin Legislative Conference The Madison Concourse Hotel, One West Dayton Street • Madison, WI

30 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) Ronn Hall (USW Local 4950 Hall), 1206 Baldwin Avenue • Negaunee, MI

31 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1104 S. Oak Avenue • Marshfield, WI

NOVEMBER 1 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) Lucky Dog’z Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road • Neenah, WI

2 Presidents Meeting (9:00 - noon) Next Generation Meeting (1:00 - 3:30) Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI

7–8 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NWI) Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, 333 West College Avenue • Appleton, WI

9–10 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SWI) Clarion Hotel & Conference Center Milwaukee Airport • 5311 S. Howell Ave • Milwaukee, WI

21 USW International Election

28–29 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NMI) Great Hall Banquet & Convention Center, 5121 Bay City Road • Midland, MI 30– 1 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SMI) Village & Conference Center, 1645 Commerce Park Drive • Chelsea, MI


This schedule is designed to assist in planning this year’s events. However, there is a possibility dates and/or locations cThis schedule is designed to assist in planning this year’s events. However, there is a possibility dates and/or locations coulould change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please watch your mail and email for notices as each event draws near. An upd change due to unforeseen circumstances. Please watch your mail and email for notices as each event draws near. An up--toto--date date calendar can be found on our calendar can be found on our websitewebsite and will be published monthly in our electronic newsletter.and will be published monthly in our electronic newsletter.

JANUARY 18 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW Local 2-21 Hall, 1201 Sheridan Road • Escanaba, MI

18 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW Local 2-148 Hall, 1201 Gillingham Road • Neenah, WI

27 WOS Quarterly Meeting Kronenwetter Village Hall, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive • Kronenwetter, WI


FEBRUARY 6 LM Review Session USW Local 2-21 Hall, 1201 Sheridan Road • Escanaba, MI

7 LM Review Session Kronenwetter Village Hall, 1582 Kronenwetter Drive • Kronenwetter, WI

8 LM Review Session Lucky Dog’z Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road • Neenah, WI

9 LM Review Session Milwaukee Labor Council Building, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI

28 LM Review Session USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI

MARCH 1 LM Review Session Bungalow Restaurant, 1100 28th Street • Manistee, MI

2 LM Review Session Teamsters Local 7 Hall, 3330 Miller Road • Kalamazoo, MI

3 LM Review Session USW Dist. 2 Southern MI, 20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300 • Taylor, MI

10 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW Dist. 2 Southern MI, 20600 Eureka Road, Suite 300 • Taylor, MI

16 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI

27 WOS Quarterly Meeting Kent Ionia Labor Council, 918 Benjamin Avenue • Grand Rapids, MI

28 WOS Quarterly Meeting Old Morton Federal Credit Union, 516 Kosciusko • Manistee, MI

APRIL 10–13 USW Constitutional Convention MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Boulevard South • Las Vegas, NV

12 WOS Quarterly Meeting USW Local 2-148 Hall, 1201 Gillingham Road • Neenah, WI


28 WOS Quarterly Meeting American Legion Hall, 327 W. Wisconsin Avenue • Tomahawk, WI

MAY 9 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) Teamsters Local 7 Hall, 3330 Miller Road • Kalamazoo, MI

10 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) USW Local 12075 Hall, 3510 James Savage Road • Midland, MI

11 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) USW Local 1299 Hall,11424 W. Jefferson Avenue • River Rouge, MI

22 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) Ronn Hall (USW Local 4950 Hall), 1206 Baldwin Avenue • Negaunee, MI

23 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1104 S. Oak Avenue • Marshfield, WI

24 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) Lucky Dog’z Labor Temple, 157 S. Green Bay Road • Neenah, WI

25 Presidents Meeting/Next Generation Meeting (9:00 – noon) Milwaukee Area Labor Council, 633 S. Hawley Road • Milwaukee, WI

JUNE 5–6 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (NMI) Great Hall Banquet & Convention Center, 5121 Bay City Road • Midland, MI

7–8 Sub-District Local Union Leadership Training (SMI) Village & Conference Center, 1645 Commerce Park Drive • Chelsea, MI

2017 District 2 Calendar of Events2017 District 2 Calendar of Events

AUGUST 2017 • VOLUME 7, ISSUE 8, PAGE 4

Getting to Know Your District 2 Council Steering Committee



The District 2 Steering Committee has many functions as listed in the sidebar of the first page of this newsletter. But, you may be asking yourself, who are these elected members? Where do they work? What do they do? To help answer these questions, USW District 2 Director Michael Bolton has set aside a column in the D2 News to do just that starting in the January 2017 issue and continuing until we highlight each and every one on the District 2 Council Steering Committee.

Let’s start with an excerpt of the District 2 By-Laws, which state:

ARTICLE XI - DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT 2 COUNCIL STEERING COMMITTEE

A. This District 2 Council Steering Committee shall assist in the following: ● Development of agenda for Council Conference ● Planning of the District Council Conference and Political/Educational Conferences ● District 2 Strategic Planning ● Determining and assessing educational needs within the District ● Generating and leading activism and other purposes consistent with the mission and directives of District 2 and the USW

B. The District 2 Council Steering Committee will normally meet biannually. C. The District 2 Council Steering Committee is expected to be present at the District 2 Council Conference.

D. Once elected, the District 2 Council Steering Committee will meet to elect 2 Co-Chairs and a Secretary. The District Director or his designee shall preside over the committees as Chairperson.

This month we will be featuring Dave Page – At Large

I have been a Steelworker for 33 1/2 years and an officer in my local for the past 21 years. I have held the offices of committeeperson, vice president, president and recording secretary. I work at Alliance Laundry Systems in Ripon, Wisconsin. We are the largest supplier of commercial laundry equipment in the world. I am a forklift driver in the new Global Distribution Center and I am responsible for loading machines on trailers being shipped all over the world.

I have been a steering committee member of USW District 2 for two terms and have enjoyed and attended all District 2 Conferences in the last 21 years. I am also a member and officer in the Fond du Lac County Labor Council. For the past 8 years, I have had the pleasure of being the President. Many discussions are held at these meetings every month on the growing need to continue to be union strong not only in our place of employment but also our community. We also discuss and question local candidates that run for office in our county and cities.

I am, and always have been, a firm believer of our Union and all the benefits the Union gives us. One thing that has become a huge priority for all of us is that we need to elect the right people into office at all levels of government and keep holding them accountable for working men and women across District 2 and this country. If you wish to inquire or have any questions about this sector, please feel free to contact

Dave Page at: [email protected]

Not So Funny Political Cartoon USW Local 12295 Holds Third Charity Golf Outing

USW Local 12295 had their 3rd annual charity golf outing to benefit the American Cancer Society. It is a joint effort between the Local and Michigan Gas Utilities. On August 23, USW President Charlie Rantz presented a check to the American Cancer Society for $4,345.

Jim Schaum, Ron Herr, Amanda Bidinger, Charlie Rantz and Ed Leary

John Walsh of USW Local 2659 S.O.A.R. Chapter 29-4 retired from his

position of Recording Secretary with over 20 plus years as an Executive

Board officer.


USW Hurricane Victims Need Our Help!

John Walsh of USW Local 2659 S.O.A.R. Chapter 29-4 retired from his

position of Recording Secretary with over 20 plus years as an Executive

Board officer.


What a fantastic event held on Saturday, August 26, 2017! The sponsor stated, “Thanks to YOU and more than 2,000 other walkers, ‘Walk For Wishes’ has already raised enough funds to grant more than 50 wishes, putting us well on our way to reaching our goal of granting the wish of every eligible child in our community. Amount raised 158,258.59 was 90% of the 175,000 goal.

Next year Make-A-Wish will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Walk for Wishes on Saturday, August 25, 2018. Hope to see all of you there.

Thank you for all that you do to support Make-A-Wish Wisconsin so children, all across Wisconsin, can experience a life changing wish experience.

Participating in Walk For Wishes® is vital.

Wishes have the power to give children hope, strength and joy when they need it most.

Every 34 minutes, Make-A-Wish grants the wish of a child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in the United States and its territories. Wishes can increase the physical and emotional well-being of wish kids, and create happy, lifelong memories. In fact, wish experiences are as much about the days that follow, as they are about the wish itself because the impact of a wish can last forever.

Funds raised by Walk for Wishes events support the Make-A-Wish® mission to grant the wish of every eligible child who has been diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition.

A wish experience can truly change a child's life, and so can you.

Wish Impact

A wish come true helps children feel stronger, more energetic, more willing and able to battle their life-threatening medical conditions. For many, it marks a turning point in their fight against their illnesses.

89% of parents and volunteers observed increases in wish kids’ emotional strength, which can help them improve their health status.

81% of parents observed an increased willingness by their wish kids to comply with treatment protocols.

75% of parents observed that the wish experience increased wish kids’ physical health and strength

● 74% saw the wish experience as a positive turning point in the wish kids’ battle against their illnesses. A wish improves children’s state of mind, replacing fear with happiness and helping them to feel like normal kids again.

99% of parents reported that the wish experience gave their children increased feelings of happiness, and 91 percent observed that the wish experience decreased their children’s depression or sadness.

● 97% of parents said the wish experience strengthened their families.”

No Sister left behind!

On Saturday, August 26, every Women of Steel participating in this year’s event completed the 5K walk for the Make-A-Wish held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

They donated $2,450 on Saturday, for an estimated total of $3,500 for the entire event.

Great Job WOS! Great Cause!

WOS of Southern Wisconsin Walked a 5k and Raised Money for Make-A-Wish

John Walsh of USW Local 2659 S.O.A.R. Chapter 29-4 retired from his position of Recording Secretary with over 20 plus years as an Executive Board officer.


This Month in History - In 1814 Key Pens Star-Spangled Banner

September 3, 1814, Francis Scott Key pens a poem which is later set to music and in 1931 b e c o m e s A m e r i c a ’ s national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The poem, originally titled “The Defence of Fort McHenry,” was written after Key witnessed the Maryland fort being bombarded by the British during the War of 1812.

Key was inspired by the sight of a lone U.S. flag still flying over Fort McHenry at daybreak, as reflected in the now-famous words of the “Star-Spangled Banner”: “And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.”

Francis Scott Key was born on August 1, 1779, at Terra Rubra, his family’s estate in Frederick County (now Carroll County), Maryland. He became a successful lawyer in Maryland and Washington, D.C., and was later appointed U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.

On June 18, 1812, America declared war on Great Britain after a series of trade disagreements. In August 1814, British troops invaded Washington, D.C., and burned the White House, Capitol Building and Library of Congress. Their next target was Baltimore.

After one of Key’s friends, Dr. William Beanes, was taken prisoner by the British, Key went to Baltimore, located the ship where Beanes was being held and negotiated his release. However, Key and Beanes weren’t allowed to leave until after the British bombardment of Fort McHenry. Key watched the bombing campaign unfold from aboard a ship located about eight miles away. After a day, the British were unable to destroy the fort and gave up. Key was relieved to see the American flag still flying over Fort McHenry and quickly penned a few lines in tribute to what he had witnessed.

The poem was printed in newspapers and eventually set to the music of a popular English drinking tune called “To Anacreon in Heaven” by composer John Stafford Smith. People began referring to the song as “The Star-Spangled Banner” and in 1916 President Woodrow Wilson announced that it should be played at all official events. It was adopted as the national anthem on March 3, 1931.

Francis Scott Key died of pleurisy on January 11, 1843. Today, the flag that flew over Fort McHenry in 1914 is housed at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.



USW District 2 Labor Day Parades—Wisconsin & Michigan



USW Local 2-585 recently held a Bowl-A-Thon to helps homeless veterans. In June and July of this year, they held two bake sales, a raffle to raise money with a set of corn hole boards & a barn wood coffee table as a prize. Both were made and donated by local union members Steven Foster & Rob Anderson. On July 23, they finished with a Bowl-A-Thon, which was held at Gateway Lanes and Lounge located in Clare, Michigan.

Altogether, they raised $1,111 for The Homeless Veterans at Oak Ridge Inn, also located in Clare, Michigan.

The Oak Ridge Inn houses Homeless Veterans from all over Michigan and many other states. The veterans were appreciative and thankful to Local 2-585 for all they did. One Veteran said, "This will go a long way to helping us take care of all of the veterans that live here. We can't thank you enough!"

Top left picture above, left to right: Mechele Allen, WOS Chairperson; and Patricia Miller, WOS Co-Chairperson; and veterans of The Oak Ridge Inn. Top middle picture: Veterans who attended the Bowl-A-Thon; Mechele Allen, WOS Chairperson; one of the veterans pictured above is USW Local 2-585 member Kat Clay. The top right picture is a bowler from Local 2-585 who participated in the fundraiser.

USW Local 2 -585 Women of Steel Helps Homeless Veterans

USW District 2 Labor Day Parades—Wisconsin & Michigan - continued



August 24, 2017—In a comprehensive EPI researchers detail how collective bargaining plays an essential role in today’s labor market, by raising working people’s wages and supporting a fair and prosperous economy as well as a vibrant democracy—and how workers’ freedom to join together and bargain with their employer is under attack.

“Unions raise workers’ wages and strengthen their rights at work, but they also give working people a voice in our democracy,” said EPI President Lawrence Mishel. “We will never again see consistent robust middle-class wage growth or a healthy democracy without first rebuilding collective bargaining.”

The report provides updated statistics on who today’s unions represent and where they are strongest. The authors point out that labor unions are more diverse than ever before: Union members include dental hygienists, graduate students, and digital journalists, as well as manufacturing workers and public-sector employees. About two-thirds of union workers age 18 to 64 are women or people of color. 14.5 percent of black workers age 18 to 64 are covered by a collective bargaining agreement, compared with 12.5 percent of white workers and 10.1 percent of Hispanic workers.

“Today, more than 1 in 9 workers are represented by a union,” said EPI Policy Director Heidi Shierholz. “By exercising their freedom to join together and negotiate their wages and working conditions, workers gain a voice through their union. But that freedom is increasingly under threat. Anyone who supports working people or a healthy democracy should stand up and support unions and collective bargaining.”

Collective bargaining is an important force in reducing inequality and ensuring that low- and middle-wage workers are given a fair return on their work. As productivity has risen over the last several decades, wages have remained flat for the majority of working people, while skyrocketing for those at the top. Union decline can explain one-third of the rise in wage inequality among men and one-fifth of the rise in wage inequality among women from 1973 to 2007. Among men, the erosion of collective bargaining has been the largest single factor driving a wedge between the middle class and the top 1 percent.

Working people in unions use their power in numbers to secure a fairer share of the income they create. On average, a worker covered by a union contract earns 13.2 percent more in wages than a peer with similar education, occupation, and experience in a nonunionized workplace in the same sector. But importantly, collective bargaining also raise wages for nonunion workers—as an economic sector becomes more unionized, nonunion employers pay more to retain qualified workers, and norms of higher pay and better conditions become standard. If union density had remained at its 1979 level, weekly wages of nonunion men in the private sector would be 5 percent higher today.

“The lack of collective worker power helps explain why workers’ wages have been stagnant for the past 40 years,” said Mishel, “and why working people are so frustrated—as they have not reaped any of the gains of an improving economy.”

Unions help close racial wage gaps, by creating pay transparency, correcting salary discrepancies, establishing clearer terms for raises and promotions, disproportionately boosting the wages of lower-wage workers, and helping workers who have been discriminated against achieve equity. Hourly wages for women represented by unions are 9.2 percent higher on average than for comparable nonunionized women, and black and Hispanic workers get a disproportionate boost from unionization compared with their white counterparts.

Despite decades of attacks by corporate interests and their political allies, we are seeing a resurgence of interest in collective bargaining, especially among young people. The report notes that unions are especially appealing to young workers. 55 percent of 18 to 29 year-old workers view unions favorably, compared with 46 percent of workers age 30 and older.

Today’s Labor Unions Give Workers the Power to Improve Their Jobs and Unrig the Economy—Economic Policy Institute

USW: High Level of Union Approval Not Surprising (Pittsburgh) --The following statement was issued today by United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard following a Gallup poll showing that labor unions have an approval rating of 61 percent, the highest since 2003.

"The resurgence of labor union popularity is good news. With a Gallup Poll showing the approval rate for organized labor at 61 percent, unions are much more popular than Congress. This may be because unions get things done.

“They increase wages for all workers – union and non-union alike. They work to create safer workplaces. They've campaigned against efforts to suppress voting. And union members in Texas, including members of the United Steelworkers, are actively rescuing flood victims and raising money for restoration of impacted communities.

“It is gratifying to see that the popularity of unions has risen 13 points since 2009, particularly when wealthy, right-wing groups like ALEC and the State Policy Network are working every day to crush unions. The USW, the AFL-CIO and all of its member unions will continue working to end income inequality and improve the lives of all workers by ensuring they receive a fair share of the bounty created by their labor."

The USW represents 850,000 workers in North America employed in many industries that include metals, rubber, chemicals, paper, oil refining and the service and public sectors. For more information: http://www.usw.org/.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 31, 2017 CONTACT: Wayne Ranick (412) 562-2444, [email protected]


USW Local 2-21 Women of Steel Organized School Backpack Drive for their Communities—Escanaba, MI

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USW Local 4950 Next Generation Project Donates $2.500 for “FUNdrive” to Buy School Supplies—Negaunee, MI

It seemed Christmas came early this year at Lakeview, Birchview and Aspen Ridge Elementary Schools. Except it wasn’t Santa who was giving, but United Steelworkers Local 4950.

"Today we are donating school supplies as part of the culmination of our second year of our school supply FUNdrive," said Michael Grondz.

Local 4950 said this is part of the "next generation" program and with just their members, they raised $2,500 to donate between three local schools - an opportunity they said was a no brainer.

"The community has had the Steelworkers’ back for generations and that’s something as Steelworkers we don’t forget," said Grondz. "Even after the rough year we had with the closure of the Empire, our members were still able to dig deep and not only continue this program, but actually grow it."

United Steelworkers hopes all of these supplies will not only help kids, but teachers who sometimes have to pay out of pocket for supplies. "Teachers spend a lot of money out of their own pocket so this certainly will benefit them and their students and be a reprieve from the money they have to spend," said Chris Marana, the Aspen Ridge Principal.

Although Local 4950 is proud of their school supply FUNdrive this year by buying from their local ShopKo Hometown in Ishpeming, they are more excited for what’s to come. "We have some very ambitious plans and we are looking to grow this project actually to a whole other level, so look out for that," said Grondz.

For more on this 4950 Next Generation project go to: https://youtu.be/lmHCwlvUvzI to view the WLUC Channel TV6 News report.

Local 2-21 did it again. Another great community project! These Papermakers from Escanaba, Michigan, know that many families in their community are struggling and at times it is hard to make ends meet. The local expected that school systems would have children arriving on the first day of school without supplies. None of the Local's members wanted to see any child without.

The Local's Women of Steel group organized a backpack drive to help. Through donations from the membership, they were able to provide boxes full of backpacks and supplies to help those children in need.

Steve Benoit, Local Union President, said, “I believe that they delivered to 15 different schools and most schools received a full box of supplies.”

AUGUST 2017 • VOLUME 7, ISSUE 8, PAGE 4



Local 9899 Showcases Past and Future of Organized Labor

USW Women of Steel — Detroit Area

Union members built the city of Saginaw, Michigan, and organized labor is now just as essential as the community begins its revitalization.

That was the message that members of Local 9899 wanted to communicate as they participated in the dedication of The Last Whistle, a statue honoring workers that was unveiled outside the Saginaw Art Museum as part of the community’s Labor Day festivities.

The 600 members of Local 9899 don’t necessarily look like the subject of the statue—a gritty blue collar worker that evokes the city’s history in lumber and manufacturing. Instead, they’re health care workers who staff nearly every part of St. Mary’s Hospital as nursing assistants, phlebotomists, pharmacy technicians, sterile processing technicians, communications workers and more.

Local 9899 President Jackie Anklam said that the statue dedication was an important opportunity for the Local to show people who they are and what they do. “It brought a lot of people out from the community,” she said. “People were so intrigued, coming up and talking to us.”

The Local set up a table to hand out t-shirts, buttons, key chains, lanyards and other USW items. Anklam said that they were well received, “I had a lot of people say, ‘I will wear this with pride!’”

Other unions in the area also participated, including the IBEW, the UAW and LUNA. The event was so successful that Saginaw is now considering its first Labor Day parade for next year.

Anklam said that their participation in the statue dedication was part of a wider outreach effort, which has included area locals speaking in front of the city council to explain the importance of organized labor in their community. Anklam recently took her turn, and after thinking over what she wanted to say, she decided she simply wanted her people recognized. “I told them where we were and who we were. I told them that almost every hand that touches you in that hospital is a union worker until the time you go out that door.”

Detroit area Women of Steel did their Lupus Detroit 5th Annual Walk for Warriors at New Center Park in Detroit, Michigan. The WOS has made this important issue a yearly activity. Lupus is a terrible debilitating disease.

USW Local 1299 Gate Collection for Hurricane Victims — Raised Nearly $6,000!

For more information on how you can make Hurricanes Harvey & Irma Donations, go to page 5 of this Newsletter.

Sisters attending the WOS Leadership Development Course collected their hotel toiletries all week. The box in the picture doesn't give justice to the amount collected. Sister Patricia Sims of Local 690L delivered the toiletries to Carriage Town Ministries in Flint.

Shortly, a cashier's check for $125 will also be delivered to them. That is 1/2 of the money collected for 50/50 raffles

and penalty cup fees during the course in Frankenmuth. The other half of the money will go to USW members caught in the hurricanes. Some of our members have lost everything.

WOS Leadership Development Course Levels I & II

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